The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-06
Military Exercises and Sermon a
West Point.

of Philadelphia, George w. Childs
has recently been spending some days
at the United States Military Acade'
my at West Point, as one of the an
nually appointed visitors of inspec'
ton to that institution. He has writ
ten, or caused to be written, some let
ters to his journal, from which L make
several extracts.
Describing the Exhibitions of horse
manship given by the First class in
the riding hall, the exciting and inter-
esting event during the ten days eX'
ercises, he says:
"They first passed around at gal.
lop, going through the various eXer-
cises presented for the sabre, after
which barriers were leaped and heads
of imaginary infantry men were ham
mered and knocked off with a grace
and ease that charmed the ladies, who
applauded the more skillful perform
ers. On each side of the hall posts
about six feet high, having on the TOP
gum plates about five inches square
were placed to represent men. Be-
tween these posts were barriers, at an
elevation of about five feet. Each
cadet charged at gallop, and the first
wooden man was shot with an army
revolver. AS the pistol was returned
to the holster the barrier was leaped,
the sabre drawn and terrific blow
aimed at the second wood and rubber
man. In most cases both of the imag'
mary infantry men were annihilated.
The barriers being removed, iron rings
two inches in diameter were suspend.
ed from wooden fixtures, and a piece
of fiat rubber was placed on the ground
to represent PROSTATE foe. Each Ca
Diet in turn was again called out to gal
lop around the hall, and required to
cut at the erect infantrymen, slap at
the head Of the PROSTATE dough boy"
aud finally thrust at the iron ring
These several feats were successfully
performed in most cases."
A large part of letter is taken up
with remarks OH class feeling among
the cadets, which is represented to be
'yery strong" After giving mum.
her of incidents in proof of this allie.
CATION, the writer continues:
"The feeling between the two upper
classes this year has not been confined
to a refusal to hold social intercourse.
Individual members have had com.
munications, but they were of a hos
tile character. Numerous pitched bat
ties have taken place under the rules
of the ring, and black eyes and scar
red faces attest the severity of the bat
ties. These encounters are always
conducted under the management of a
few friends of the combatants, in the
vicinity of Port Putnam or other To-
cality, safe against the surprise of the
authorities, 1t is a singular fact, that
while a tactical officer can detect a
minute speck Oh the collar ef 4 cadet
at atiaspection, he is never able to see a
black eve or q skinned nose-at least
he cannot see such trifles officially"
Now, in the light of what has just
overturning the wooden representa-
tions of foemen, and slashing fiercely
ut the "dough boy" and refusing to
hold intercourse, and fighting pitched
battles among themselves. it is in
structive to read what Il religious pa
per communicated the next week rela-
tive to the sermon of Post ChaplaiE
Postlethwaite to the graduates. The
minister's text was from Isaiah Xxi
verse 6, "But We shall be named the
priests of the Lord! Men shall call
you the ministers of our God" No
doubt his "long and earnest" remarks
upon the good that the ''priests of the
Lord" in the broadest possible sense,
could and should do, were excellent,
as was also the address following. in
which he enjoined the graduates to
the faithful, heroic performance of
their every day duties. In conclusion
he said LET ME beseech you by the
mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies living sacrifice, holy and ac-
ceptable unto God, which is your rea-
sonable service. You are at this time
offering yourselves on your country's
altar, ready to die for that country at
any moment. I therefore beseech you
make this two fold offering of your
selves-to your God and to your coun-
try. Being His, He will stand by you
in every duty, in every hour of peril,
and when the time of your departure
is at hand He will receive you into the
arms Of everlasting victory.
A telegraphic dispatch spoke of a
fine portrait of Grant to be placed in
one of the halls of the Academy, by
which it would be 'sanctified." 1t
was expected that the portraits of the
great Generals would be placed beside
It, and give access of glory to the
place. Are the exercises at the Mill
tary Academy of the government,
promotive of the religion of Him who
said, "Love your enemies ?"
JOSIAH w. LEEDS.